146 The Arabian Horse 



I venture to offer a few remarks. The writer is at a 

 loss to understand how so strong and powerful a horse 

 can have speed, although he sees and admits his action 

 to be elastic. If he had been more conversant with 

 Arabians, he would have known that the rare combina- 

 tion of points to be found only in the Arabian, permits 

 of a horse being strong, powerful, enabled to carry- 

 weight, and with good speed, and all done with light 

 and elastic action. And why object to his springy 

 and elastic pasterns, — the means provided by nature to 

 secure his good action, and preserve him from accidents } 

 Has not rather the European eye been perverted by 

 studying a false and imperfect model .'' I think, too, he 

 must have been mistaken in the long head. The Flying 

 Dutchman, who was more distinguished for elastic action 

 and for springy pasterns than "perhaps any other English 

 race horse, was a sound horse ; and I have seen it no- 

 ticed that upon one occasion, when trainers were only 

 allowing their horses to take gentle canters, and for 

 short distances, Fobert was sending the Dutchman over 

 the hard ground four-mile gallops ; but, as was remarked, 

 lie was one of the very fezv sound ones. 



But the Arab is so small ! is the remark made by 

 many of his detractors. He is low in stature, but is no 

 weed. He is not a small, but really a large horse. 

 Those who do not know the Arab cannot understand 

 this ; they say, if a horse 14^ hands has as much power 

 as one 15^ or 16 hands, he must be out of proportion ; 

 they are ever guided by the English standard. They see 

 the pretty galloways or ponies in London or Paris about 



